Warragul Poultry Club Inc.

02/09/2026

Good evening to all of our friends and members. The current H5 outbreak certainly has thrown everything up in the air. As a way of continuing on and to keep the club ticking over on Sunday the 20th of September we will be hosting an egg show and a talk on H5 and things poultry. The egg show will be entries in by 10.15 judging will commence at 10.30. 4 eggs are required so start working out who is laying the good ones. Classes will be from the standard schedule which I will post shortly. There will be junior and open/senior classes also decorated egg classes for open and junior. Egg judging will finish by 11.30 and judges discretion stands on whether eggs are cracked or not.
Our guest speaker will be Dr Heather McKimm see the resume who has a massive knowledge base to draw from. The talk will run after a half hour break for a sausage sizzle with a targeted finish by 2pm.
We welcome anyone to attend and exhibit on the day.

16/08/2026

Hello to all of our great supporters and followers. You will see in the pictures our great sponsors who contribute so much to our club and supported our annual show which as it turns out we were lucky to get in. Where you can support them back and let them know how important and appreciated they are.
We hope you are all coping with what is going on and although falling under the random 50 bird policy put out you have been able to bird proof your pens.
At this stage we presume there will be no poultry events for the rest of 2026 so are working on the following paragraph.
We are trying to contact someone with the view of having a guest speaker on H5 in the near future. Also looking at having some other guest speakers or talks on subjects of interest. If you have something you would like to discuss send a message and we will see what we can do.
We will try and keep you as up to date as we can with information coming to hand. We will also be having some working bees primarily to install our new cage fronts in the coming months so will be looking for many hands at that point. We will let you know as things happen. So until then you and your birds stay safe and healthy.

12/08/2026

H5 bird flu update: 8 August
There are increasing detections of H5 bird flu in the state. In addition to known locations in Portland, Nelson, Yambuk, Clyde and Apollo Bay, there have now been detections in Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Allansford, Tyrendarra and Logans Beach.

You can help by continuing to:
- AVOID contact with sick or dead wild birds or wildlife and their environment
- RECORD what you see, including location, species, how many
- REPORT to DEECA online or by calling the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Report clusters (5 or more) of sick or dead wild birds of any species, anywhere in Victoria.
Report even one sick or dead:
- wild seabird, waterbird, shorebird or bird of prey
- marine mammal (e.g. seal, sea lion, dolphin).

We will assess each report and decide if testing and sampling are needed based on location and species type. Not all reports will lead to an investigation, collection or testing. Where further action is needed, we may contact you for more information or arrange collection and testing.

Reminder: A poultry housing requirement for flocks of 50 or more birds is in place in coastal and southern Victorian shires, including metropolitan Melbourne.

We will continue monitoring the situation and provide further information as it becomes available.

More information: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/birdflu

12/08/2026

: The Melbourne Royal Show has cancelled all poultry competitions and exhibitions as the number of H5 bird flu cases continues to surge across the country.

It comes after the state government announced it would vaccinate Phillip Island's wild penguin population against the disease.

12/08/2026

09/08/2026

07/08/2026

A housing requirement is now in place for poultry flocks of 50 or more birds along the south of the state for an initial 14 days following recent detections of H5 bird flu. 🐔

Poultry owners in these areas must house their birds or otherwise prevent contact with wild birds wherever practical.

Housing poultry is an additional risk mitigation option aimed at reducing exposure of poultry to infected wildlife. Wild birds are a known source of H5 bird flu.

Stringent biosecurity practices remain essential. If you notice unexplained illness or deaths in your birds, report it immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Find out more about the housing requirement: 🔗 agriculture.vic.gov.au/birdflu